In January, Mr Cairns hosted a hosted a transport summit with business leaders in North Wales to discuss maximising the opportunities for economic growth in the region.

Last year, the Prime Minister announced that the UK government had agreed a funding package with the Welsh government to electrify the Valley Lines.

Under the package, the UK government will cover the full costs of electrifying the Great Western mainline to Swansea and devolve the Wales and Borders rail franchise, so that the Welsh government decides the new franchise in 2018.

The UK government has also pledged more than £10million funding for the Halton Curve project, a railway line to connect Liverpool, Cheshire, Warrington and North Wales.